Star Sports unveils ‘Starcast’ panel for ODI World Cup 2023

Mumbai, 29 September 2023: Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, introduces the ‘Starcast’ for ‘Mission World Cup’, an illustrious panel of commentators who will take the viewers on an exciting journey through crickets biggest and most prestigious event.

With a remarkable line-up of former players who have graced the Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1975, the StarCast will serve as a treasure trove of in-depth analysis, insights, and expertise. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be showcased in nine different languages, catering to diverse fans across the nation.

The StarCast panel reads like the cricketing Hall of Fame. The iconic World Cup winners, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, K Srikanth, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and S Sreesanth grace the panel. The panel also boasts of multiple Former Indian Chairman of Selectors, MSK Prasad, Sandeep Patil and Sunil Joshi along with former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar.             

Eoin Morgan, the triumphant captain who led England to victory in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will join former Australia cricket legends and World Cup winners Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, Matthew Hayden, and Ricky Ponting, who bring their championship-winning insights to the fore.

A legendary set of fast bowlers—Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn, Shane Bond, and Shaun Pollock—will also share their unmatched insights. The charismatic former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen along with South African legends Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir, also bring their global perspectives.

“Being part of the ‘Starcast’ for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is an honour. The World Cup is where dreams are made, and rewritten. I'm excited to bring you the stories, the emotions, and the cricketing brilliance on the Star Sports Network. Let's embark on this thrilling journey together!”, said Irfan Pathan.

“There's an unmatched excitement when it comes to the ICC World Cup and being part of the 'Starcast' lets me share that excitement with fans across India. From nail-biting moments to unforgettable victories, we're here to capture and celebrate every aspect of marquee tournament”, said Gautam Gambhir.

“The World Cup holds a special place in every fan's heart, and I'm delighted to be part of the 'Starcast' for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Get ready for some intense cricketing action, expert analysis, and a whole lot of passion only on Star Sports Network Let's make this World Cup a memory to cherish!", said Harbhajan Singh.

Alongside them, the mellifluous voices of cricket's beloved commentators—Harsha Bhogle, Mark Nicholas, Ian Bishop, and Mpumelelo Mbangwa will provide viewers with their keen perspectives. The legendary Sanjay Manjrekar and the astute Deep Dasgupta will also be guides to the action. Joining them are celebrated cricket experts Simon Doull, Nasser Hussain, Ramiz Raja, Michael Atherton and Dirk Nannes. Former cricketer and captain of the Australian Women’s Cricket team, Lisa Sthalekar, adds her voice to the ensemble.

Adding their effervescent charm and expertise to the Starcast are Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik and former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif. Former captain of the Indian Women's National team, Anjum Chopra, will also grace the roster.

The indomitable former India women’s team captain, Mithali Raj, will bring her unique perspective to the coverage.

In a testament to India's rich linguistic diversity and its fervent cricketing passion, Star Sports is set to provide an immersive experience for fans across the country with exclusive broadcasts in various regional languages.

The Tamil feed will feature the likes of former cricketers S. Badrinath, Murali Vijay, Yomahesh Vijayakumar, Russel Arnold, Hemang Badani, S Ramesh and actor RJ Balaji among others.

For Telugu-speaking fans, cricket whizz Venugopal Rao will join IPL champions T Suman, Ashish Reddy and Kalyan Krishna.

In Kannada, former India cricketer Vinay Kumar will join former India cricketers Gundappa Viswanath, Vijay Bharadwaj as well as IPL stars Bharath Chipli, Pavan Deshpande, Akhil Balachandra and others.

The Gujarati feed will introduce a touch of humour and entertainment with Manan Desai, Akash Trivedi and Deep Vaidya, along with the strategic acumen of Nayan Mongia and other contributors.

Marathi-speaking fans can enjoy the insights of cricket luminaries Amol Muzumdar, Lalchand Rajput, Pravin Tambe and fellow experts.

The Malayalam feed boasts the passionate presence of Tinu Yohannan, Raiphi Gomez and others. Meanwhile, the Bangla feed will provide expert analysis led by A Jhunjhunwala, Ashoke Dinda and other popular cricketing voices.

With this unrivalled assembly of cricketing legends and experts, Star Sports is committed to delivering the most comprehensive and engaging coverage of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The broadcaster continues to connect with fans on a profound level, making the illustrious tournament even more inclusive and entertaining.